The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-01

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to come from. aud the prioc TO be !!
paid therefor, Is a question Of no
mean proportions. and one which is
propou nded with urgent force to
every individual in the community. |
The increased competition in the
way Of transportation within the past
few years has decreased the cost OF
fuel greatly in those sections Of the
country far remote from the !
coal fields. Goal has almost |
taken the place Of wood entirely, |
being cheaper Ia tho long run, |
aud less unglesome to handle. Coal !
has always been Q costly item "
Southern cities, but Notwithstanding
that fact il is universally used, Ia
the way Of fuel. like 10 scores OF
other material things. Memphis en-
joys advantages over her adjacent
sisters, being situated sn the river.
besides having q larger Number OF
competitive through freight lines
than any Of chem. The majority Of
the coal consumed here is from Pitts.
burg, and Is toynd from there in
barges down the uhio into the Mis-
sissippi river, and is landed right at
our doors. Whao Il sometimes oc.
ours that, on account OF the low stage
Of the water in. the Ohio. the barges
are late getnpS in here, thereby caus.
Jog the price. OF the limited supply
on hand to advance, this rarely oc-
ours, and such thing M coal fam
inc in Memphis is unknown, and
whatever hatvral or artificial causes
might caslsc delay in river trms.
portstiou can be obvietod by the
excel lent railrold facilities. The
Pit,sbury coal is used almost ex-
clusivcly Tor domestic purposes, as il
costs about ~ pe< ton aud is deemed
too expensive for manufacturing,
steamboat and railroad purposes, all
Of which use tho Kentucky coal,
which ranges in price from 81 10
VI ~ lees porton. Beside this, little
or no lump coal is used in large
furnaces South. Kentucky coal is
much fott.r. aud docs not last no long
as the Pttsburg coal. Anthracite
coal IL the neatcst, aud. at the same
time, tho most expensive OF all coal.
As a general thing but a small guam
tity OF 10 is brought here, but as the
wealthy build fnc houses, and have
the modern base burners placed in
them, tho dcmand increases. Only
the rich can enjoy its bright blazing
beet, Tor the cheapest price IL was ever
sold for here was SlO per ton. The
greatest number OF tons OF coal
ever consumed here in one year has
boen 200 900. OF this. about 10000
tons camo down the river from Pitts.
burg, aud the remainder by rail
from the Kentucky regions. Much
speculation has been INDUCED in as
60 the reduced rates fuel will fall 10
when tho Alabama coal fields will
ind a market here by way OF the
Kansas City aud Birmingham rail.
way, which, IL IN calculated, will
commence running It's coal cars from
the Walker county mines about the
lst Of next month. While there is no
doubt but that the opening Of these
immense coal beds, 80 near 10 our
doors. will affect the price 20 the al.
VANTAGE OF the consumer, IL is dou bt-
ful whether this coal will be brough,
here ia large quantities, from the
simple fact tnat II will most likely
seek markets farther south, whore Il
will avoid such active competition,
aud consequently command a higher
price.
The Alabama coal Is superior In
quality 20 that from Kentucky, aud
Is destined 10 be a strong competitor
with the Pittsburg in this section.
The uses 10 which iug wood is put
here, though II il abundant, ac
confined almost exclusively 10 the
bake.shops. The kinds that are
most used is tho ash and oak, which
is corded both in Tennessee aud
Mississippi. add Ia broush, here by
rail. Those bakeries use consider.
able quantities OF It, aud there u a
good profit made from the sale OF IL.
The ash burns reader than oak. and
for a quick. hot FIRE is given tho
preference by the bakers. IL would
be q difficult matter 10 ascertain the
number OF bushels Of coil sold by
the bushcl aud hall bushol BY lob.
bers 10 the poorer classes, who are
only able 30 buy Il in such meagcr
quantities, and too frequently suit.
fer for the lack OF oven that much.
The indications Tor the approaching
winter are that the markets will be
well filled and that the price will be
fully q, low. if not lower. than last
year. The price Is fixed az the com.
mencement OF each month, aud con.
scquently can not be Appropriated
with precise de6niiencss.